V112 Form – MOT Exemption

What is a V112 Form?

The V112 form is an important one from the DVLA in claiming your vehicle is exempt from MOT. It is the form that you use to change your vehicle to Historic Vehicle status and stop having to get an MOT every year. 

Basically bikes, cars and other vehicles 40 years old or over can be registered as Historic Vehicles.  This means that there is no need to have an annual MOT test, and as an added bonus you will not need to pay for the road fund licence either. If you are looking to change the taxation class of your vehicle for other reasons you will need to complete a V70 form to set up historic vehicle tax.

The best thing is, considering how valuable the benefits of using it are, the V112 form must be the easiest form in the world to complete.  Here is all you need to know.

Where to get V112 Form

You can download the v112 form here for print, or by visiting the DVLA on the .gov website.  It comes as a .pdf document so will need either printing or editing in a text editor that can deal with .pdf documents.  It will need signing so you will have to print it sometime.

What the V112 Declaration Looks like

Yes that’s it.  Almost unbelievably simple, considering how much money it can save you.  It does come with another page.  This one.

Which basically lists all of the categories that can be used to complete the form to claim the exemption.  For our use, it is the final category R, sorry to spoil the ending if you want to read it all!

How to fill in a V112 Form

It really is as easy as 1 2 3… 4

1. In section 1 you put the registration number of the vehicle.  If you are sending this form as part of your first registration of the vehicle you simply but the VIN in here.
   
2. In section 2 you put your full name.  In practice, if you were named after the first team of a cup winning football team you don’t need to put every middle name.  I have always put my first and family name, and they have never argued.
   
3. Section 3 is the one that may require a little more thought.  For vehicles over40 years old you simply put the letter R. Obviously if you are using the form for one of the other categories you need to choose the correct category.
   
4. Section 4 just needs your signature.  And that’s it the form is complete, how easy was that!!

When can you use the V112 Form

Unfortunately, it doesn’t start on the vehicle’s birthday!  The vehicle must be over 40 years old by January 7th of the year after it is 40, so if you have proof that it was registered in the first week of the year you can complete it a year earlier than you might think.  

Also the exemption doesn’t actually kick in until April when the new tax year starts.  I think it is when it is published in Parliament.  

There is one other thing you must consider. To claim the R category the vehicle must not have been substantially changed in the last 30 years.

What are substantial changes to a vehicle?

Motorcycles seem to have a little more leeway than other vehicles, but replacement of parts including the frame or chassis with a reproduction is not a substantial change. If you have built a chopper, hardtailing your original motorcycle frame, then this seems to be allowed.

If the vehicle is already registered then just use the form, it doesn’t ask you to declare any changes.  However, if you have just built or imported the vehicle it might be a little more complicated as you are doing the initial registration, see the V55/5 Form post.

If you replace the engine with one of the same type this is also allowed, even if the capacity is different.  So if you are putting the S54 3.2-litre engine from an M3 into an older BMW 3 series chassis that isn’t a substantial change 🙂 However, if the engine isn’t the same configuration as an original fitment then there could be problems.  

If you have just built your ultimate vehicle, say a NorVin, then you need to be a little more careful to avoid the dreaded “Q” plate.  In practice, if the combination was not uncommon originally such as a Triton, Triumph engine in Norton frame, then there isn’t usually an issue. I would complete the form with VIN and Engine numbers as they are, with the make being the frame or chassis.  I would not be asking the DVLA to register a VeloRollsRoyce or other strange car or motorcycle concoction.  There are other government forms for more complicated builds or reconstructed classics, but if you keep it simple you shouldn’t need to go down this route.

Where To Send V112 Form

I have always sent the V112 form along with either the V55/5 initial registration form or the V5 to the DVLA to be processed.  It is possible that you might be able to take them to the Post Office when you are due to renew your road fund licence, but I suspect they would then want to send the v112 form off to the DVLA anyway.